Diane Price passed quietly on the evening of March 13, 2024 surrounded by her family. Diane was born in San Francisco on June 26, 1935 and spent the majority of her life in the City. She attended Washington High School just up the street from her family home and then went to the University of California, Berkeley where she got her Bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Art. She was very active while there, performing in many musicals.
After college, she toured as a singer and was a member of the San Francisco Opera Ring. Diane had a number of lead roles including Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Lorelei in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Lois Lane in Kiss Me Kate, Linda in Pal Joey, and Winifred in Once Upon A Mattress. She also performed at many venues in San Francisco such as the Hungry I and Bimbo’s 365.
She studied tap dance with Stanley Kahn and became a dance teacher for the South San Francisco, Daly City, and San Francisco Recreation and Parks departments, teaching dance at playgrounds around the city and on the peninsula.
In 1984, with the SF Recreation and Parks Department, she founded the Young People’s Teen Musical Theatre Company to introduce young people to the theatre. The Company rehearsed and performed at the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts and the Randall Museum and continues to do so to this day. The Company was a safe space for hundreds of teens, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in theatre, film, and television. The Company has performed nearly 150 shows as well as providing training in dance, voice, and acting.
In addition to her role as director of The Company, Diane directed many musicals at Lowell High School, including Bells Are Ringing, Evita, Miss Saigon, and Les Miserables.
For a number of years, she and her first husband ran a restaurant and bar in Ghirardelli Square called the Sea Witch where she performed as a tap dancing and singing waitress. It was one of the first venues where the staff provided live entertainment for the patrons.
After retirement, Diane continued her education at the Fromm Institute where her intellectual curiosity, love of learning, and sociable nature led her to take courses in Creative Writing, Music, and other subjects.
Diane is preceded in death by her parents George and Rachel Berman and her beloved cousins Ron Cole and Bev Cohen. She is survived by John, her husband of 40 years, her children Johnny (Gemma), Craig (Kari), Rachel (Roger), Steve (Terri), Colin (Gina), and Mary Jo (Chris) as well as her twelve grandchildren, Caitlin, Griffin, Jessica, Cassie, Stella, Andrea, Jacob, Jared, Sara, Kati, Ezra, and Lizzie.
Family was extremely important to Diane and she and John hosted their children and grandchildren for a week together in Calistoga for 25 years. She loved watching her adult children take turns cooking dinner for the group and her grandchildren laughing in the swimming pools.
Funeral services were held on March 18 at Salem Memorial Park in Colma where she rests peacefully in the company of her parents. A celebration of life gathering will be held; details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Friends of the Company at YPTMTC.org.